Administrative Office of Courts
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Court of Appeals to visit Rust College on Nov. 2 October 9, 2017 The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on the campus of Rust College on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. to hear oral arguments. It will be the court’s first visit to the campus in Holly Springs. A three-judge panel will hold court in Doxey Auditorium to hear lawyers’ arguments in a criminal case, then will speak to a student assembly. The Jackson-based court hears a few cases on college campuses around the state as part of its Court on the Road program. The Court of Appeals will conclude its fall campus visits with oral arguments scheduled for Nov. 15 at Mississippi State University. Court of Appeals Judge Latrice Westbrooks of Lexington arranged the visit at the request of Dr. A.J. Stovall, chairman of the Division of Social Science at Rust College. Judge Westbrooks said, “It’s a teaching tool and it gives the students and the public positive exposure to the judicial system and to judges. Court on the Road invites students to watch and learn about how our court operates.” Judges will talk with students after the oral arguments and answer questions, although they won’t talk about the pending case. Having an opportunity to see the court at work provides a valuable learning experience for students who may have an interest in careers in law as well as those who simply want to better understand how each branch of government functions. The case to be heard is the criminal appeal of Immanuel Manning v. State of Mississippi, cause number 2016-KA-1301-COA. Manning was convicted in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court in August 2016 of murder and witness tampering involving the March 7, 2014, shooting death of Christopher Houston in Starkville. Manning was sentenced to life in prison on the murder charge and two years in prison on the witness intimidation charges. The sentences are without parole as a habitual offender, court records show. Manning’s appeal brief is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=dc00001_live.COA.16.KA.1301.86994.0.pdf&c=85085&a=N&s=2. The Attorney General’s brief is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=dc00001_live.COA.16.KA.1301.91038.0.pdf&c=85085&a=N&s=2. Manning is represented by Justin T. Cook of the Indigent Appeals Division of the Office of State Public Defender. Special Assistant Attorneys General Barbara Byrd and LaDonna Holland represent the state. People wishing to watch the oral arguments are asked to be in their seats 15 minutes before the proceeding is scheduled to begin.The oral argument will not be broadcast via the court’s Internet website, since the Court of Appeals is convening a special session away from its camera-equipped courtroom. Any media organization which may wish to photograph or videotape the arguments must file a Camera Coverage Notice. Camera Coverage Notices should be directed to Clerk of the Court Muriel Ellis, fax 601-359-2407, and to Assistant Court Administrator Camille Evans, fax 601-576-4708. The Camera Coverage Notice form is at https://courts.ms.gov/forms/camnotice.pdf. Photographers and videographers must be familiar with and follow the Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings. The camera coverage rules are available at http://courts.ms.gov/research/rules/msrulesofcourt/rules_electronicphotographic_coverage.pdf. #### |
